Trumbull police save woman from choking

Published 9:13 pm, Friday, July 30, 2010

TRUMBULL -- Local police are credited with saving a 48-year-old woman from choking to death Thursday night.

According to Deputy Chief Michael Harry, police responded to a medical call about a woman choking on food at her Huntington Turnpike home. Upon arrival, officers saw that the victim had already turned blue, was not breathing and had no pulse.

Officer Joseph Velky was able to clear the airway and began chest compressions while Officers Paul Coutinho and Michael Gonzalez administered oxygen and maintained the airway. Harry said that at the time of the incident Velky was on a special duty job and was not part of regular patrol, yet responded without being detailed.

By the time EMS arrived, the victim was breathing on her own and was transported to St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport for evaluation. The woman's name wasn't immediately available Friday.

Harry said the incident shows the wide variety of responsibilities the town's police officers have. "I just want people to know what these guys do," Harry said.